B6, B12 & Lipozene

by
DAN HARRIMAN July 18, 2017

Dan Harriman

Dan Harriman began writing professionally in 2009 and has a varied background in marketing, ranging from sports management to music promotion. Harriman holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism with an emphasis on strategic communications from the University of Kansas and earned the International Advertising Association's diploma in marketing communications.

Weight-loss vitamins on a glass bathroom scale with an apple and a towel.
Photo Credit: Dianie Lamprecht/iStock/Getty Images

Essential vitamins, such as vitamins B6 and B12, are commonly used in weight-loss products. However, weight-loss products will often contain only traces of such vitamins, far from daily intake recommendations. Even though Lipozene diet pills contain vitamins B6 and B12, as well as other natural ingredients, its weight-loss effectiveness and nutritional value may be limited.

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Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 carries out a number of important functions in your body. The water-soluble vitamin comes in three different chemical forms and is essential to the more than 100 enzymes involved in the metabolism of protein and red blood cells, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Because it is water-soluble, your body cannot store the vitamin and therefore requires a constant supply of it. Vitamin B6 helps convert the amino acid tryptophan into niacin, a B-complex vitamin that helps reduce the amount of cholesterol and fatty substances in your blood. Sources of vitamin B6 include fortified cereals, baked potatoes, bananas and chicken breast. Even though deficiencies are rare, not receiving enough vitamin B6 can result in dermatitis, depression, confusion and convulsions.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin needed to make the genetic materials in DNA cells. The body extracts the vitamin from protein during digestion, which is then stored by your body's liver for up to several years, according to the Mayo Clinic. Vitamin B12 is, in this sense, special as all other water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored. Vitamin B12 is required to keep nerve and red blood cells healthy. Food sources rich in vitamin B12 include liver, beef, shellfish, trout, salmon and yogurt. Since the liver stores the vitamin, deficiency cases are rare but can occur in people who have pernicious anemia, a condition that does not allow the body to absorb the vitamin from the intestinal tract. Vegans and vegetarians may be at higher risk of deficiency due to their lower protein intakes.

Lipozene

Lipozene is a dietary supplement that is marketed as a weight-loss product. Lipozene contains glucomannan, a fiber supplement that tricks you into believing you are full, according to DietResearch. The supplement is supposed to be taken before every meal and promises to help curb hunger pangs. Even though the Lipozene website claims that clinical trials have proven its effectiveness, no medically based proof is provided.

Vitamins in Lipozene

Lipozene contains the vitamins B6 and B12, which are used for their metabolic qualities. The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends that adults receive 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 and 1.3 mg to 1.7 mg of vitamin B6 daily. DietResearch claims that Lipozene contains very small doses of the two vitamins and is unlikely to have any real effect based on their contributions.

Criticism

According to DietResearch, the parent company of Lipozene, Obesity Research Institute, was charged by the Federal Trade Commission to refund customers $1.5 million for false and misleading supplement advertising. A high number of customer service complaints and claims about the product's ineffectiveness have also been reported.

The vitamins B6 and B12 are essential B-complex vitamins and are best obtained from either natural food sources or standard supplements that promote healthy nutrition rather then weight loss.